Adjustable tongue-holder.



F. J. DULTNIEIER.

ADJUSTABLE TONGUE HOLDER.

APPLICATION man MAR.13.|916.

neuron Vsmarts auteur FRANK J'. DULTMEIER, OF MANNING, IOWA..

ADJUSTABLE TONGUEeHOLDER.

Application filed March 13, 1916.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, FRANK J. DULTMEIER,

a citizen of the United States, and residentr of Manning, in the county of Carroll and State of lowa, have invented a certain new and useful Adjustable Tongue-Holder, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an adjustable tongue holder of simple, durable and inexpensive construction.

A further object is to provide such an adjustable tongue holder adapted to be fitted to the tongue hounds of wagons of different makes and sizes and also adapted to secure a tongue to a truck or sled.

Still a further object is to provide in such a device, means for adjustably mounting the parts of the holder on the tongue.

My invention consists in the construction,

fully set forth, pointed out in my claims,l

and illustrated in-the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a top or plan view of a tongue equipped with a tongue holder embodying my invention and secured to the axle of a truck, sled or the like, the dotted lines showing the arrangement of the device for use with ordinary hounds.

Fig. 2 shows a transverse, vertical, sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a rear view of part of the device, part of the tongue being shown in section.

Fig. 4 shows part of the device applied on a tongue in a slightly different manner from the method shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 shows a modified form of an adjustable tongue holder, and

Fig. 6 shows a vertical, sectional view taken on the line 6-,6 of Fig. 5.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate generally the tongue of an ordinary vehicle, the rear end thereof only being shown.

My improved tongue holder in case of all the forms includes a pair of plates or the like 11 secured to the tongue on opposite sides thereof forward from the rear end of the tongue by means of bolts 12 or the like.

Pivoted at the rear ends of the plates 11 are opposite rearwardly and outwardly extending links 13. Pivoted to the rear ends of the links 13 are rearwardly extending Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 10, 1917..

serial No. 83,795.

channel-bar members 14 opening toward the tongue. j

Pivotally mounted between the walls of the channel-bars 14, near the forward ends thereof, are bars or arms 15 extending toward the tongue and having the inwardly forked ends 16 and 17. The end 16 extends horizontally toward the tongue from the arm 15 and the end 17, is inclined downwardly and toward the tongue, and thence toward the tongue in a horizontal plane, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

Mounted on the tongue between the arms 15 are upper and lower fastening members comprising transverse plates 18 having in their lower and upper surfaces, respectively, recesses 19 to receire the tongue. The members 18 have the ends 20 projecting beyond the tongue. The members 16 and 17 of the f respective arms 15 are received between the ends 2O of the respective members 18 and are secured thereto by means of bolts 21 and nuts 22. The members 16 and 17 are of somewhat resilient material.

The construction shown is of considerable importance for the reason that if the tongue should shrink somewhat the nuts can be screwed farther on all the bolts springing the members 16 and 17 toward each other, and making it possible to firmly grip the tongue between the members 18.

Spaced rearwardly from the members 18 are clamp members23 of somewhat similar construction having ends 24 which are preferably somewhat longer than the ends 20, and provided with a plurality of openings 25 for selectively receiving bolts 21 similar to those already described.

Pivoted in the rear ends of the channel bar members 14 are arms 15 similar to those already described. The members 16 and 17 may be fastened between the ends 24 of the clamps 23, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, for Vusing my adjustable' device with ordinary hounds.

In the full lines in Fig. 1, I have shown the adjustable device for use with a truck or sled or the like. In the form of the device shown in full lines in Fig. 1, l have shown the arms 15 extended rearwardly instead of toward the tongue 10 and having what 1 shall call connecting arms 26 pivoted at their forward ends between the ends 24 of the clamp members 23 and extending rearwardly and outwardly as shown.

The arms 26 at their rearward ends have parallel downwardly extending members 27 and 28 provided with openings which register with each other and are adapted to re ceive cottei` pins 29 or the like. The member 27 is inserted through a ring 30 or the like on the truck axle 31 and the cotter pin 27 is inserted through the openings in the members 27 and 28 for holding the arm 26 in position.

rl`he members 26 have near their rear ends or their outer sides iorwardly projecting ears 32 having openings which register with each other. The ears 32 of each arm 26 are designed to receive between them the members 16 and 17 of the rearwardly extending arm l5, as shown in Fig. 1. At their forward ends the arm members 26 have spaced end members 33 and 34.

In the form of the device shown in full lines in Fig. 1, the end members 33 and 3a are received between the ends 24 of the clamp members 23. It will readily be seen that by removing the bolts 21 which secure the end members 33 and 34: between the ends of the clamps 23, and by removing the cotter pins 29 the connecting arms 26 may b e removed entirely. The arms 15 may then be swung forwardly and inwardly and connected with the clamps 23 by means of bolts 21, and then the adjustable tongue device may be used in connection with ordinary tongue hounds by extending a bolt 35 through the parts as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 4:, I have shown secured to the opposite sides of the tongue at a point spaced apart from its rearward end, the members 11 similar to those already described. Iivoted to the portions 11 are rearwardly and outwardly extending bars 36. On the rear end of the tongue are clamp members 23 similar to those shown in Fig. 1 and hereinbefore described. The connecting arms 26 are provided with their forward ends received between the ends of the members 23. 'Ihe rearward ends of the bars 36 are mounted between the ears 32 at the rear ends of the arms 26 by means of bolts 21 similar to those hereinbefore described as used in their places.

The form of the device shown in Fig. t' makes a very simple means Jfor securing a tongue to a truck or the like.

In Fig. 5, I have shown a slightly modi` iied form of an adjustable tongue device having the members 11, similar to those already described secured to the tongue 10 and having the portions 13 'and 14 similar to those hereinbefore described.

Instead of the members 15, I provide in the form shown in Fig. 5, arms 37 pivoted within the forward ends of the channelshaped members 14 and extending toward the tongue. The arms 37 comprise flat bars having at their inner ends elongated slots 38, said slots being Yarrangec'l with a series of opposite lateral extensions 39 to receive a bolt 40 extended through the arms 37 and the tongue 10. I preferably arrange the arms 37 in bearings one above the other as shown in Fig. 6. The outer ends of each pair of arms 37 are arranged parallel and adjacent to each other. The upper arm 37 of each pair is bent or shaped to extend to position above the tongue 10 and the lower arm of each pair 37 is bent or shaped to extend to position with its inner end below the tongue 10, all as shown in Fig. 6.

It will be seen that by removing the bolt 40 the arms 37 may be adjusted across the tongue and by selectively extending the bolt 40 through different parts of tl e slots 33 in different extensions 39, the members 14.- may be moved inwardly or outwardly for changing their arrangement.

Secured to the rear ends of the channelshaped members 11 are pairs of arms Ll1 similar in construction to the arms 37 except that thc arms 41 are somewhat longer. The inner ends oi' the arms 14 have slots 38, and a series of lateral extensions 39 similar to those of the arms 37. The inner ends of the arms 41 are secured to the tongue 10 by means of a bolt 4L() such as already described.

In the practical use of my improved adjustable tongue device, in the form shown in Fig. 1, the positions of the channel-shaped members 14 may be regulated as may be desired by loosening the bolts 21 and sliding the' vclamp portion longitudinally of the tongue 10. W'here the arms 26 are not used, the members 14: may be adjusted to fit wagon hounds of different sizes and makes.

Vhere the form of the device shown in full lines in Fig. 1 is used, the same adjustment may be made and in addition, the forward ends of the connecting arms 26 may be adjusted inwardly and outwardly by selectively mounting the bolt 21 in the different openings 25.

By simply adding the connecting arms 26 to the other parts, shown in Fig. 2, the adjustable device may be adjusted for use on a truck or the like. By removing the connecting arm 26, and moving the arms 15 to the positions shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, the adjustable devices may be used with a variety of wagon hounds.

It will thus be seen that with the form of the device shown in Fig. 1, the members 26 may be dispensed with and the device used with ordinary tongue hounds, and by sliding the members 18 and 23 longitudinally on the tongue 10, the angles of the members 14:, with relation to the tongue and also their distances therefrom may be varied, so that the device may be used with tongue trucks of different makes. By simply adding the members 26, the device may be used as shown.

iio

Should the tongue shrink slightly, the shrinkage can be taken up by squeezing the resilient members 16 and 17 between the ends of the clamps.

The device in Fig. 4 makes a simple and inexpensive means for connecting a tongue with a running gear of various kinds, and by sliding the members 23, of the device shown in Fig. 4, longitudinally7 on the tongue, after the bolts therein have been loosened, the rear ends of the members Q6 may be adjusted toward and from each other as may be desired.

ln Fig. 5 l have shown the holes 42 for selectivelyT receiving the bolts 40 for adjusting the members 37 and 41 longitudinally of the tongue, thereby making it possible to secure a greater variety of arrangements for the members 14.

It will be understood that some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the various parts of my device without departing from the essential features and purposes thereof, and it ismy intention to cover by this application any such changes which may be included within the reasonable scope of my claims.

l claim as my invention:

1. The combination of a tongue with a pair of plates secured on opposite sides thereof, spaced forwardly from the rear end of said tongue, links pivoted to said plates and extended rearwardly and outwardly therefrom, channel-bar members pivoted to the rear ends of said links and extending rearwardly said members opening toward the tongue, arms pivoted within said channel members near the forward ends thereof and extending toward the tongue, having at their inner ends forked resilient ends, clamps on the upper and lower side of said tongue having ends extending laterally from the ltongue, the ends of the upper and lower clamps receiving between them said forked ends, bolts extended through the ends of the clamps and said forked ends, nuts on said bolts, similar arms pivoted in said channel members, near their rear ends, similar clamp members on the rear end 0f said tongue, arms having forked resilient ends secured between the projecting ends of said last described clamps, said last arms extending rearwardly and having at their rear ends spaced ears to receive the rear forked ends downwardly extending members, and locking means for connecting said downwardly extending members on each third described arm.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a tongue having an angular rear end with a pair of spaced opposite side members, links pivoted to the forward ends of said side members, and pivoted with relation to the tongue, means for adj ustably connecting the forward and rearward ends respectively, of said side members with the tongue, said means including clamps capable of longitudinal adjustment on said tongue, means for connecting said clamps with said side members, one of said clamps comprising an upper clamp member extending transversely across the tongue above the tongue, and a lower clamp member extending transversely across the tongue below the tongue, said clamp members having on their surfaces adjacent to the tongue means for engaging the sides of the tongue, whereby the clamp members will be automatically held in proper position transversely of the tongue when assembled, and adjusted, each clamp member having projecting ends provided with pluralities of openings, divider arms operatively connected with the side members, having forked, spaced, resilient inner ends received between the projecting ends of the clamp members on opposite sides of the tongue, bolts extended through the projecting ends of the clamp members on each side of the tongue and through the forked ends of said divider arms for pivotally connecting said forked ends with said clamp members for permitting adjustment of the clamp members toward and from each other and for adjusting said clamp members according to the size of the tongue, and for gripping the tongue in any position and for permitting the clamp members to be drawn toward each other and pressing said forked ends toward each other in case of shrinkage of the tongue, said bolts being adapted to be selectively placed in different holes in said clamps for securing further adjustment.

Des Moines, Iowa, March 4, 1916.

FRANK J. DULTMEIER.

Gopieskof this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

